Poll: Voters expect more politician arrests

New York state Sen. Malcolm Smith was arrested April 2 on charges that he plotted to bribe his way onto the Republican ballot in this year's mayoral race. Credit: Reuters

More than 80 percent of New York voters expect more arrests among state lawmakers, a new poll showed.

The Siena College poll also revealed that nine of 10 voters believe corruption in the state legislature is a serious problem. Forty-one percent believe it's a "very serious" problem.

The results came the same month that state Sen. Malcolm Smith was arrested for attempting to bribe his way onto the Republican mayoral ballot. Just days later, Assemblyman Eric Stevenson of the Bronx was arrested in a separate bribery scandal.

According to the poll, voters overwhelmingly support legislative term limits 82-17 percent. They also favor limiting candidates to one party line 55-40 percent, and they support having full-time state lawmakers with no outside jobs 54-42 percent.